Improvement in fire-escapes



'F.BURROWS. Fire-Escape.

No. 220,218. Patented oct. 741879.

Figi 2;

N.FETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPMER, WASHINGTON, D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

FRANK BURROWS, OF GEORGETOWN, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-ESCAPES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 220,218, dated October 7, 1879; application led March 1, 1879.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK BURnoWs, of

Georgetown, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in' Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which forni a part of this specification.

l. The nature of my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of a lire-escape for buildings of any size or character, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the annexed drawings, which fully illustrate my invention, Figure l is a front elevation of a building with my tire-escape applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same. v

A represents the front wall of any building to which my `nre-escape may be applied. In this front wall, at each end, in or immediately below the cornice, is fastened a hook or eyebolt, a., to which is connected a pulley-block, B, containing a single pulley, b.

Through the pulley-blocks B B and over the pulleys b b therein is passed a rope, C, which when not in use is held taut along or below the cornice of the building, andthe ends of the rope fastened at the sides of the building,near the bottom, to cleats d d, or any other suitable fastening devices.

Preferably the cleats or fastening devices d are to be inelosed in' boxes, so that they cannot be undone except by the properly-authorized person.

Between the two pulley blocks B B the rope C passes through another pulley-block, D, containing one or more pulleys, e, as required, said pulley-block D being movable on the rope C. To the pulley-block D is attached a guy-rope, f, as shown.

When the iire-escape is not in use the pulley-block D is, by means of the guy-rope f, moved close to one of the pulley-blocks B, and the guy-rope f carried down with one end of the main rope C, and fastened with it on the cleat d.

F represents a wire basket7 constructed in any s-uitable form and size, and provided with a bail, G, which is secured to the ends of the basket, and has a central eye or hook, l1, to be connected to the pulley-block D, as shown. At each end of the basket F is also secured a bail, I, provided with a snap-hook, t', or its equivalent, to pass over the main rope C, one on each side of the pulley block D. This basket F is to be kept in the building in such a place that it can be easily and quickly taken out when required.

In case of tire the ends of the rope C are loosened, and by means of the guy-rope f the center of the main rope and the block D are pulled down, so that the basket F can be con nected to said block and rope, as above described.

By now pulling on the ends of the main rope C, and guiding the basket with the guyrope f, the basket F can be directed to any window in the building for receiving persons from the same, removing goods, &c., according to circumstances.

By my invention the firemen may be hoisted to any part of the building. Ladders may be hoisted to the top and fastened to the buildin g.

In case of the iiames coming out of any of the lower windows, the ropes C and f are passed through hooks or rings m fastened in the curb, so that the persons operating said. ropes may stand away from the building, and also carry the basket out of the way of the flames.

It will be noticed that in my invention the connection is flexible-that is, I use a rope which is capable of coming down between the two extremities of the building, and to any part thereof, as required.

Instead of a basket, I may in some cases use a belt or other device for receiving the person to be lowered from the building.

' In some cases the guy-rope f may also be dispensed with.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a fire-escape, a basket or other equivalent device supported flexibly from both ends of the building, and operated from one or both of said ends, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

2. The pulley-blocks B B, connected to the building, the rope C, and the movable pulleyblock D, with or without the guy-rope f, all

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto axed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK BURRoWs.

Witnesses:

CHAS. L. SAVAGE, WM. B. UPPERMAN. 

